Tok Chamber of Commerce

Tok is Alaska's official welcoming committee as the first community across the Canadian border for Alaska Highway travelers. Highways lead north, south, east and west from this friendly hub community. It offers access to all the interior of Alaska, the Gold Fields, back country, scenic rivers, and public lands. Our residents number 1415 and our elevation is 1635'. Tok is the trade center for the Athabascan Native villages of Northway, Tetlin, Tanacross, Mentasta, Eagle and Dot Lake. Local Native arts and crafts may be found in many of our gift shops.

Tok originated as an Alaska Road Commission camp for the construction of the Alcan and Glenn Highways in the 1940's during World War II. There are many tall tales about how Tok got it's name but you can discover what really happened if you stop by the Mainstreet Visitor's Center located at the intersection of the Alaska Highway and the Tok Cut Off. You will be surprised. In 1946, Tok Junction was designated a Presidential Townsite, the same year the Alcan opened to civilians and the little community gained a roadhouse.

In 1954, the Tok Dog Mushers was founded, and the U.S. Army began construction of the Haines-Fairbanks fuel pipeline, with a pump station located here. It closed down in 1979. In the fall of 1976 the U.S. Coast Guard built the Long Range Aid to Navigation station (LORAN). Four 700' towers, 6 miles east of the junction, transmit radio navigation signals for air and marine traffic in the Gulf of Alaska. U.S. Customs moved from Tok to its present location on the border in 1971.